CP&DR -

CEQA Guidelines Proposed For GHG Emissions Analysis

Apr 29, 2009

California, California Environmental Quality Act, Environment Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

The Governor's Office of Planning and Research has completed proposed California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions. The guidelines now move to the Natural Resources Agency, which intends to invite additional comment and conduct at least two public hearings this summer before releasing a final version.

L.A. Density Bonus Law Struck Down

Apr 29, 2009

CP&DR Staff, Housing, In Brief, Los Angeles County, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

The City of Los Angeles's closely watched density bonus ordinance has been struck down because the city did not subject the ordinance to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review.

A Long And Winding Road For Sacramento's K Street

Apr 28, 2009

It was a sunny summer Saturday the first time I stepped onto the K Street mall in downtown Sacramento. The place was deserted. That was 25 years ago, and Sacramento is still trying to figure out the K Street mall.

Cities, Counties Weigh SB 375 Strategies While Rules Evolve

Apr 28, 2009

California, Climate change, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009, William Fulton

SB 375 is now law, but another year and a half will pass before the California Air Resources Board adopts the follow-up numerical regional targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. This puts California's cities and counties in a pretty big bind: How can they adopt plans for the future that will conform with the climate change law if they don't know what standard they are going to have to comply with?

Diamond Bar Settles With Industry On Football Stadium

Apr 28, 2009

CP&DR Staff, In Brief, Los Angeles County, Stadiums and arenas, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

The City of Diamond Bar has reached an agreement with the neighboring City of Industry regarding development of a proposed pro football stadium in Industry.

Petaluma Disbands Its Planning Department

Apr 27, 2009

Local Watch, Paul Shigley, Sonoma County, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

In a budget-cutting move, the City of Petaluma is disbanding its Community Development Department. After slashing the department from 23 to 11 employees in September 2008, the City Council more recently voted 4-2 to lay off all remaining planners, including the community development director.

Making Earth Day Work Is Harder Than You Think

Apr 27, 2009

As Earth Day approached, I was concerned that I was kicking up a huge carbon footprint while I traveled all over the place helping people figure out how to reduce their carbon footprint.

Another Antiquated Subdivision Map Rejected

Apr 23, 2009

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Solano County, Subdivision Map Act, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

In the third decision in an emerging line of cases regarding antiquated subdivisions, an appellate court has refused to recognize the legality of a parcel shown on a 1909 subdivision map. The First District Court of Appeal ruled the Solano County map did not satisfy the requirements of the Subdivision Map Act's grandfather clause because the law in effect in 1909 did not address the "design and improvement" of subdivisions.

Court Upholds Reliance On Unspecified Mitigation Bank

Apr 21, 2009

California Environmental Quality Act, Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, Sacramento County, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

In a case regarding a proposed "town center" project in Rancho Cordova, the Third District Court of Appeal has overturned nearly every portion of a Superior Court ruling in favor of environmentalists who oppose the development.

San Joaquin Valley Leaders Adopt Regional Blueprint

Apr 21, 2009

Central Valley, Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

A regional panel of elected officials in the San Joaquin Valley has approved a growth blueprint that calls for increased housing densities in the eight-county region. In approving a plan for a new housing density of 6.8 units per acre for the region, the San Joaquin Valley Policy Council rejected an alternative of 10 units per acre that would have preserved more farmland and cut forecast greenhouse gas emissions.

Planner In Chief

Apr 19, 2009

Last Thursday, the often-nerdy Barack Obama erased all remaining doubt that he is positioning himself as America's "Planner In Chief".

Petaluma Eliminates Its Planning Department

Apr 14, 2009

The Petaluma City Council voted April 13 night to eliminate the city's planning staff because of a lack of development activity and a $4.5 million budget deficit.

Elimination of a planning department would be a remarkable turn of events anywhere in California, but the fact that this is occurring in Petaluma is downright shocking.

----------UPDATE----------

Read more about the Petaluma situation in this month's Local Watch story.

Oakland Considers Downtown Zoning Overhaul

Apr 14, 2009

Oakland civic leaders hope that a proposed new zoning code might help downtown turn the corner. Let's hope they are right.

Southern California: Money, Power And Guilty Pleasures

Apr 14, 2009

Last week, driving north from San Diego through Orange County, I engaged in a secret and somewhat twisted pleasure – I ponied up my four-bucks-and-change to get off I-5 and I-405 and traverse the 15 miles from San Juan Capistrano to Costa Mesa on California State Route 73, otherwise known as the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road.